Marie Gonnella Pickleball Inspiration: Marie Gonnella, 85, from Sturgeon Falls, took part in the District 3 pickleball qualifiers for the Ontario 55+ Summer Games on June 14. The event was held at the Tom Davies Arena in Lively, Ontario. Gonnella played in women’s and mixed doubles, showing that age is no barrier to trying something new.
She competed with her women’s partner Simone Dumont and mixed partner John Halliday. Although she didn’t expect to qualify for the Ontario 55+ Summer Games in August, Gonnella said she enjoyed the experience.
“Anyone can play it at any age, and it’s an easy sport to pick up,” said Marie Gonnella.
From Cruise Ship to Pickleball Court
Marie Gonnella had just returned from a 12-day cruise the day before the event but still made it to the tournament early on Saturday morning. She only started playing pickleball in her late 70s after her daughter came back from Arizona and introduced her to the game.
Gonnella has always been active. She used to play badminton while growing up in Creighton Mine near Lively. As an adult, she became a passionate golfer.
“It’s not a difficult sport in terms of maybe relating it to golf. You’re on your own in golf. You can’t depend on someone else making a mistake. You’re going to make a mistake yourself,” said Marie Gonnella.
“But in pickleball, you hope your opposition makes a few mistakes, and that helps your score. It’s a really good sport for seniors.”
Pickleball Grows in Popularity Among Seniors
Forty-two players joined the event in Lively, including five women’s teams, eight men’s teams, and 17 mixed teams. The event had age groups 55+ and 65+, and winners in all groups will go on to the Ontario 55+ Summer Games in Sudbury from August 5 to 7.
Philip Candelaria, the event’s co-convener, said pickleball is growing fast.
“It is the fastest-growing sport in North America, I think, for the last two or three years,” said Philip Candelaria.
“I teach pickleball, and I get people to play a game the very first time they ever come out to play pickleball. It’s easy because it’s a paddle like a ping pong paddle, except it’s bigger.”
“Unlike a tennis ball, the ball is a wiffle ball. It’s a light plastic ball, so you can only hit it so hard. It’s easier to control. A tennis ball can go really fast, but pickleballs are pretty soft, and so you can hit that really hard, and a defender can still get it back.”
Sudbury’s 69-year-old Marlene Warkus, who started playing in Florida, also shared her thoughts.
“It’s very challenging. You try to get better all the time. It’s very physical, so you keep in shape,” said Marlene Warkus.
The Ontario 55+ Summer Games will feature 16 events, including swimming, tennis, euchre, and prediction walking, where players guess how long it will take them to finish a course.
Winners Advancing to the Ontario 55+ Summer Games
Mixed Doubles
55–64 (3.5): Lynn Michel & John Bleau
65+ (3.5): Lynda Franklin-Allard & Lyle Thompson
65+ (4.0): Jean Rance & Bud Hebner
Women’s Doubles
55–64 (3.5): Lynn Michel & Diane Valiquette
65+ (3.5): Lynda Franklin-Allard & Darcelle Levesque
Men’s Doubles
55–64 (3.5): Bernard Levesque & Lyle Thompson
65+ (3.5): Tom Geddes & Nestor Gutierrez
65+ (4.0): John Halliday & Bud Hebner
News in Brief: Marie Gonnella Pickleball Inspiration
Marie Gonnella, 85, joined the Ontario 55+ pickleball qualifiers in Lively, showing age is no limit. She played alongside Simone Dumont and John Halliday. The event drew 42 players, with top teams now set to compete in the Ontario 55+ Summer Games in Sudbury from August 5 to 7.